For generations, fishermen from Tanmen Town in south China's Hainan Province have lived by and with the South China Sea. They've not only brought home the ocean's bounty, but also played a vital role in defending China's sovereignty in those waters.

Back in 2013, President Xi Jinping stepped aboard one of their boats, welcoming fishermen returning safely from the sea.

Twelve years on, we return to Tanmen to see how that powerful moment continues to shape the region's transformation.